We know this was from July, but it will be interesting to see if anyone on the NJ Legislature acts on this bill. NJ would love nothing more than $500 a clip off people not wearing a mask, but will it work? Also, the 30 days in jail kind of goes against Murphy’s Covid procedures for prisoners, right? If he’s letting prisoners out of jail to stay safe from Covid, why lock up people during a pandemic for a petty disorderly persons offense? Drug dealers busted with automatic weapons, bags of dope, and everything else get released on a summons these days anyway- so this won’t happen with bail reform.

Below is a bill introduced in July, in its entirety.

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ASSEMBLY, No. 4453 

STATE OF NEW JERSEY

219th LEGISLATURE

INTRODUCED JULY 27, 2020

Sponsored by: Assemblyman RALPH R. CAPUTO District 28 (Essex)

Assemblywoman VALERIE VAINIERI HUTTLE District 37 (Bergen)

Assemblyman JOE DANIELSEN District 17 (Middlesex and Somerset)

Assemblywoman ANNETTE QUIJANO District 20 (Union)

Co-Sponsored by: Assemblyman Verrelli and Assemblywoman Tucker

SYNOPSIS

     Makes failure to wear mask upon entry into store with posted signage trespass offense during period of public emergency declared by Governor in Executive Order 103 of 2020. 

CURRENT VERSION OF TEXT 

     As introduced.

An Act concerning the offense of trespass during public health emergency declared by Executive Order 103 of 2020.

     Be It Enacted by the Senate and General Assembly of the State of New Jersey:

     1.    During the public health emergency and state of emergency declared by the Governor in Executive Order 103 of 2020, a person commits a petty disorderly persons offense if, knowing that he is not licensed or privileged to do so, he enters or remains in a store or mercantile retail establishment as to which notice against trespass is given by signage posted that is visible and unobstructed which requires that any person entering the premises of a store or retail mercantile establishment must be wearing a mask and a person does not wear a mask.

     2.    This act shall take effect immediately and shall expire upon the expiration of the state of emergency declared by the Governor in Executive Order 103 of 2020.

STATEMENT

This bill provides that during the public health emergency and state of emergency declared by the Governor in Executive Order 103 of 2020, a person commits a petty disorderly persons offense if, knowing that he is not licensed or privileged to do so, he enters or remains in a store or mercantile retail establishment as to which notice against trespass is given by signage that is visible and unobstructed which requires that any person entering the premises of a store or retail mercantile establishment must be wearing a mask is posted and a person does not wear a mask. A petty disorderly persons offense is punishable by up to 30 days imprisonment, a fine of up to $500, or both.